Basolateral amygdala-driven augmentation of medial prefrontal cortex GABAergic neurotransmission in response to environmental stimuli associated with cocaine administration.

ABSTRACT: Basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) interactions have been implicated in cue-elicited craving and drug seeking. However, the neurochemical mechanisms underlying drug/environment associations are ill-defined. We used in vivo microdialysis and pharmacological inactivation techniques to identify alterations in mPFC glutamate (GLU) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission in response to cues previously associated with experimenter-administered cocaine (COC) and the BLA contribution to these effects. Rats received alternate day injections of COC and saline (SAL) paired with a distinct environment for 6 days. Behavioral, neurochemical and immunohistochemical studies were conducted, in drug-free animals, 24 h after the last conditioning session. Animals exposed t

SUBMITTER: Chefer VI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3158319 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature